Seth Bodnar - independent US Senate candidate

[406dn]

No small part of this is that Daines knew this shenanigan would catch Democrats flatfooted.

Daines showed how much he respects the Montana voters. It was more important to him to rig a game, than allowing Montanans to choose among several candidates.

Politics has always been a cutthroat contest, citizen's united took it up a magnitude or more.

 

[SAJ-99]

No small part of this is that Daines knew this shenanigan would catch Democrats flatfooted.

Daines showed how much he respects the Montana voters. It was more important to him to rig a game, than allowing Montanans to choose among several candidates.

Politics has always been a cutthroat contest, citizen's united took it up a magnitude or more.

I would be willing to bet that Danies didn't drive any part of this decision other than he wasn't running.

 

[Straight Arrow]

I would be willing to bet that Danies didn't drive any part of this decision other than he wasn't running.

If there was any way of confirming or denying factually ... I would take that bet and give you odds!

 

[Jnasa]

I am tired of the 2 party system. People in the middle are too often left with a bad choice or worse choice scenario.

I don't plan to vote for Fulcher in Idaho this election because he ignores his constituents views on federal public lands. I wish there were more viable 3rd party options.

 

[SAJ-99]

If there was any way of confirming or denying factually ... I would take that bet and give you odds!

Takes two to make a market. Danies hasn't had an independent thought since he went to DC.

 

[Big Sky Guy]

Platform — Seth for Montana

Seth Bodnar is running for U.S. Senate to be Montana's independent voice in Washington. A Green Beret, business leader, and former University of Montana president, Seth is fighting for real solutions outside the two-party system.

www.sethformontana.com

I vote generally red. This is good enough for me (not aligned everywhere) in lieu of voting for a canidate that stole his seat with the RNCs assistance.

The switcharoo that Alme pulled shouldnt be acceptable. Him getting elected would set precident that it is. Fug that.

Same.

The Dems did similar with Biden to Harris and even going back with Hillary and Bernie. Both were a losing strategy in the end. Hoping this proves to be a losing strategy for Alme, like you said, the message/precedent needs to continue to be set that this is not acceptable.

 

[Big Fin]

One facet that stood out to me as I prepared for this podcast was that his communication team did not “handle” him or demand any topics be on the list or be off the list. That was refreshing.

I think that is why it comes across as a natural conversation.

In the past, when I have done these candidate podcasts, the amount of effort that goes into vetting questions and topics is burdensome. Most of these candidates from the R/D side have handlers who make sure that they provide the canned response that is expected from party leadership. They don’t want anybody going off script.

To have a candidate who is willing to just show up and discuss every topic on the list was outside the norm.

 

[406dn]

I would be willing to bet that Danies didn't drive any part of this decision other than he wasn't running.

That speaks even more poorly of him, then. Either way he's a pos imo.

 

[Big Fin]

I would be willing to bet that Danies didn't drive any part of this decision other than he wasn't running.

You could very well be correct in that assessment. Yet, he has defended this move whenever asked or questioned about it.

 

[sapperJ24]

Maybe, but Bodnar would have to become one as well. The only political position he’s held is UM President. Of course, you could argue that isn’t a political position. He obviously kept them happy for 8 years. That’s good or bad depending on your perspective. UM isn’t considered conservative. Again, that’s good or bad depending on your perspective.

Who is 'them'?

Bodnar was selected by the Board of Regents. Board of Regents is appointed by the governor. Prior president Engstrom was forced out after a conversation with the Commissioner of Higher Ed, which is appointed by the Board of Regents.

One of UM's most well known donors has donated to R's and D's in the past, but also to the Trump campaign.

Both the student body and faculty don't have a say.

 

[Gerald Martin]

I agree not a good look. However, Alme has the support of almost every State and National Rs. He would still have won the Primary no matter when Daines dropped out.

If he’d have put his name out and shown himself to be the people’s choice in spite of competition from other candidates I’d have a completely different perspective of him as a candidate.
As is, he’s already demonstrated that party/power first is what I can expect from him as a representative.

 

[jimh406]

You think Alme wouldnt have had more competition (with less endorsements) if it wasnt gamed?

Not many want to unseat an incumbent. If the seat was open through the primary - someone else could have thrown their name in.

Maybe you have a popular Montana R in mind that would have run who didn't. I don't.

 

[jimh406]

The Dems did similar with Biden to Harris and even going back with Hillary and Bernie. Both were a losing strategy in the end. Hoping this proves to be a losing strategy for Alme, like you said, the message/precedent needs to continue to be set that this is not acceptable.

Not close to the same in my mind. Harris wasn't in a primary at all and had zero votes from anyone before being declared the nominee. They didn't even have a primary. The DNC conspired against Bernie to ensure Hillary won.

Alme won his primary although you can argue he might have had to beat one more or more additional people had Daines chose not to run sooner.

 

[Forkyfinder]

Maybe you have a popular Montana R in mind that would have run who didn't. I don't.

I dont. But i also dont particularily care. The point is that the primary was rigged. Full stop.

Not close to the same in my mind. Harris wasn't in a primary at all and had zero votes from anyone before being declared the nominee. They didn't even have a primary. The DNC conspired against Bernie to ensure Hillary won.

Alme won his primary although you can argue he might have had to beat one more or more additional people had Daines chose not to run sooner.

Cant it be true that it was wrong in both instances and should be inexcusable to both sets of party members?

 

[jimh406]

Cant it be true that it was wrong in both instances and should be inexcusable to both sets of party members?

Sure, it was a bad look in the Montana case.

 

[Carnage2011]

Not close to the same in my mind. Harris wasn't in a primary at all and had zero votes from anyone before being declared the nominee. They didn't even have a primary. The DNC conspired against Bernie to ensure Hillary won.

Alme won his primary although you can argue he might have had to beat one more or more additional people had Daines chose not to run sooner.

Come on man. Let your partisan bias down for a minute. Alme was gifted a spot with virtually no competition. You can spin however you want but this is no better than what the Democrats did.

 

[jimh406]

Come on man. Let your partisan bias down for a minute. Alme was gifted a spot with virtually no competition. You can spin however you want but this is no better than what the Democrats did.

I don't think I'm the only partisan on this thread, but I have zero first hand knowledge why it happened probably like everyone else on the thread.

Like I said, feel free to list those who would have beaten Alme had Daines dropped out before. Considering Harris had almost zero votes when she ran for President and the DNC conspired against Bernie, those are worse. Like I said, I agree none of the cases should have happened.

What do we do now? Maybe you vote for someone else "on principle", or maybe you don't vote. That's all up to you.

 

[406dn]

I don't think I'm the only partisan on this thread, but I have zero first hand knowledge why it happened probably like everyone else on the thread.

Like I said, feel free to list those who would have beaten Alme had Daines dropped out before. Considering Harris had almost zero votes when she ran for President and the DNC conspired against Bernie, those are worse. Like I said, I agree none of the cases should have happened.

What do we do now? Maybe you vote for someone else "on principle", or maybe you don't vote. That's all up to you.

Regarding the Biden Harris handoff, I do not think Biden intended to step down. He was forced down, after the debate showed the world, his diminishment. It happened so late in the calendar that doing anything close to normal would have been very difficult.

As a person who voted for Biden in 2020, I find his decision to seek a second term to be a brazen example of putting personal ambition ahead of the public interest.

I struggle with cynicism concerning the motivation of politicians. His actions have not helped.

Daines clearly put his party's interest ahead of the state's electorate, with his maneuver. That too, has not lessened my cynicism concerning politicians being committed to doing public service.

 

[Forkyfinder]

I don't think I'm the only partisan on this thread, but I have zero first hand knowledge why it happened probably like everyone else on the thread.

First hand knowledge?

I have the relevant fact pattern. Daines resigned right beford the bell rang. Alme went in right after, minutes before anyone else could have. Why or how specifically it went down is entirely irrelevant.

The reality is that the GOP voters in this state didnt really select their representation with a true open party, the party (or whomever you wish to speculate) did.

If you dont see a problem with that, im not sure how to convince you it is. Acceptance of it wont lead to canidates like Zinke - who for all for his flaws - stood up for things that matter to Montanans (like public land). To me it certainly leads to more outside influence and control of OUR representation.

Thanks for your insistence. Im making a campaign contribution now, never done it in my life, but the doubling down here is making me think this is the most critical election (for ensuring the future doesnt hold more primary fixing) of my lifetime.

 

[jimh406]

If you dont see a problem with that, im not sure how to convince you it is.

I've already said multiple times that I didn't like the maneuver. I just don't think it made a difference on who the nominee was going to be.